Hawks rich netball history
The Drouin Hawks Netball Club has a rich history since its formation about 55 years ago.
Initially, the club played in the Drouin and District Association before several football clubs caught the idea of linking the two sports and so the West Gippsland Netball League took off.
Not all of the clubs had netball in the early days and, at Drouin, the teams trained and played on a court at the Drouin primary school until about 1967 when they moved to the top court at the Drouin Recreation Reserve.
This remains the current home to the Drouin Hawks Netball Club.
Money was raised to light the courts and local residents Frank Hutt and Alf Ablett built a brick building to house the power board.
The club fielded three teams – two senior, and one junior and players wore maroon tunics with gold cord sashes and gold under shirts.
By the time Drouin won the A Grade premiership in 1976 there were three senior grades and all of the West Gippsland football clubs had associated netball sides.
Drouin won the 17&Under premiership in 1979.
The Drouin Hawks Netball Club was officially incorporated in 1985.
The club won West Gippsland Netball Association premierships in C Grade for three consecutive years - 1985, 1986 and 1987.
Those teams included local identities Sue Williams, Toni Cassells and Jeannette Davies.
Jeannette actually played in one premiership with her daughter Lisa.
Drouin’s next success was in 1995 when the 17&Under side, coached by Sue Williams, won the premiership.
The successful team included Linda McLeish, Claire Dean, Kelly Simpson, Shantrel Lindorff and Renee Jungwirth.
In 1995 facilities were expanded to include a home team shelter.
In 1999 the Hawks’ 17&Unders were again premiers coached by Jody Fraser, now a life member of the club.
Erin Ablett, Jess Thomas, Lia Olsen and Christie Proctor were some of the members of that side.
In more recent times Drouin Hawks have been highly successful and a benchmark in many grades in the competitions they’ve played.
In 2003 15&Under and B Grade teams were both crowned premiers, the start of a run of six consecutive B Grade premierships.
Two years later, 2005, Drouin Hawks moved into the West Gippsland Latrobe Netball Association.
The Hawks have had some great success since their inclusion in this competition previously dominated by Traralgon.
In the inaugural season all six Drouin sides made the finals with premierships in A and B grades and 17&Under and runners-up in C Grade and 13&Under. For the next few years the Drouin Hawks continued to set the standard in Gippsland League.
2006 – B Grade and 17&Under premiers, runners-up in A and C Grades.
2007 – A and B Grade premiers, 17&Under runners up.
2008 – A, B and 17&Under premiers and 13&Under runners up.
In 2009 the club’s facilities underwent a major redevelopment with court resurfacing and a new multi-use pavilion providing storage and office space for netball.
Since 2010 it has been Drouin’s A Grade that has achieved great success with premierships in 2010, 2011 and 2016 as well reaching grand finals in 2015 and 2017.
The Drouin Hawks have truly been pacesetters in Gippsland League, the premier competition in the region.